Card index



April 14,'1942. c. E. ATTwooD CARD INDEX Filed Nov. 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet.;

)III

April 14, 1942 c. E; ATTwooD 2,279,702

CARD INDEXv Filed Nov. 112, 1940 Sheets-Sheet 2 /fsil #ggf/'w20 /7 Y.

Patented Apr. 14, 1942 res UNIT-Eo Charles E. Attwood, Chicago, lll., :assigner ,to

Acme "Visible Records, Inc., Chicagoflll., a corporation of Delaware Application November 12, 11940, Serial No. '13S-5,249

3 Claims.

This invention `relates to improvements in visible record systems `of the class embodying a 'plurality of relatively small vindex cards arranged in chain-like groups and in overlapping relationship to expose marginal portions of the cards, and particularly to mounting and supporting means for such'cards.

The use of index "cards fof the general type herein lcontemplated has been known in combination with 'various .mounting or -supporting means, such as, 'for example, metallic trays lprovided with -xed cir-detachable runways, the runways `'being rigid "or substantially rigid, -or with card holders lswing-ably for vhingedly 4mounted in frames, the lindividual 'index cards being interlocked 'with each other 'or directly yengaged to the card holder by means -of yapertures, slots-*and 'other auxiliary aids.

It 'is an object Vof ythis invention -to provide a truly flexible and detachable smooth runway yor support -io'r mounting -a 4plurality of relatively by ra marginalfedge portion is exposed, the-runway 'or support being 'adapted tolengage and v*interlock iwith an -index -card holder of a generally conventional type provided with a sheath a't its lower Imarginal edge and yhingedly mounted 'for use lin fa y'card holder or tray.

Another object is to provide a'pocket cardor holder having a transparent sheathadjacent its lower marginal edge to forma pocket Aforthe reception fof and -to hold 'the lowermost card or 'striplintheehain andtheba'se of the card -runway,fand having a longitudinalslot adjacent the upper 'marginalfedge of the `pocketcard or -holder for the reception of a rtongueror -lug extending from the head of the runway to form an interlock-therewith.

Other objects relate to details of construction of the runway or support whereby it may be engaged in relatively fixed relationship with the pocket card or holder, to means for holding the cards in place thereon and preventing lateral movement thereof, together with other details of construction, arrangement of parts and economies thereof, which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational View illustrating a record' holder and a plurality of card holders embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2,

illustrating the :ilexibility .and :method fof voperation of my novel component detachable card runway.

Fig. 4 `is a rfragmentary detail view -of a hinged card vlholder 'and theslot :thereof for vengagement with the card runway.

Fig .is an 'illustration lof a die-:cut `index card employed vwith'. my invention.

iFig. :6 4is .a front elevational lview I of Amy .flexible 'andidetachablecardfsupport orsrunway.

Fig; 57 is .'a'iragmentary frontelevational view of the card runway andan index .card;in,:lower most position thereon.

lFig. 8 Vis a fragmentary .rear elevationalv .View of ,the card ,runway and a plurality `of index cards inllowermost position thereon.

Fig. 9 is a vperspective fragmentary rearward View of 4my cardrunway `with .one .index card :inr

lowermost position thereon.

Referring tothe drawings, Ill indicatesaiframe or support which .'maybe utilized asa tray-or drawer -of a record cabinet, .a Vleaf of a record book, `for Yiiling vin vertical 'filing drawers, or .a unit .of the usual swingably mounted record or index stand. This .frame Ii! is generally `.constructed of metaland formedwithfa pairfofxopposed longitudinal anges II beneath whiehare maintained lflexible metallic 'hangers such as' |12, tol .which cardholders `I?. are engaged by Yhinge means, 'such as vlli. lIt .will be understoooLhowever, that various other means rfor hingedly mounting Athe card holders, well known in the art, may be employed with my invention. The card lholder I3 is `additionally :provided with .a sheath .or v,pocket =I5 embracing its lowermost marginal edge, 'the sheath ,being i preferably -of transparentmaterial and securedto the cardby means such as'the staples I6.

The index cards I'I which are adapted'tmbe utilized with my invention are of a conventional type, being die-cut to provide a pair of opposed tabs I8 which may be flexed and detachably engaged to support means therefor, in overlapping engagement with each other whereby a marginal edge portion of the cards remains exposed for the reception of indicia.

The card support means in accordance with my invention comprises a runway element I9, formed of smooth ilexible material, such as for example Celluloid which will not appreciably deform on repeated use although it may have a relatively thin yet suiiiciently strong body for the supporting use herein contemplated. The runway I9 is provided with a pair oilaterally ex tending shoulders 20 adjacent the head portion thereof, and a pair of laterally extending shoulders 2| at the base thereof. One function ofthe shoulders 20 and 2| is to provide stop or limiting means for sliding movement longitudinally thereof of index cards I1 engaged thereto, the base shoulders 2I additionally serving maintain the lowermost engaged index card at a position whereby its lowermost edge substantially coincides with the lowermost edge of the runway I9, and for cooperative use therewith, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The head portion of the runway I9 is provided with a tongue or lug 22 of appreciable widthV extending between the shoulders 20. l

The card holder I3 is provided with one or more longitudinally extending slots 23 adjacent the upper marginal edge thereof, each slot 23 being adapted to receive a runway tongue 22, the movement of the tongue through the slot being limited by the length of the tongue and the laterally extending shoulder portions 20 thereat. The length of the runway I9 is such that Ythe vdistance between the base of the tongue 22 and the lower terminal edge of theelement is sub stantially equal to the distance between the slot 23 and the fold of the sheath I5. It will be understood that the card holder I3 may be provided with a suitable number of spaced apart slots 23, dependent on the width of the card holder or width ofthe index cards I1. Y Thus as illustrated in Fig. 1, two slots are provided so that two elements I9 may be engaged, the sheath I5 being common to both.

As hereinbefore stated, the relationship of the height of the base shoulders 2I to anindex card Il, or the die-cut thereof, is such that the lower .marginal edge of the lowermost card mounted Aon runway I9 substantially coincides with the lower edge of runway I 9, as best illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. Thus when a runway I9 having a chain of cards IIthereon is to be mounted on a card holder I3, the lower marginal edge ofa lowermost index card together with the base of the runway is inserted within sheath I5, and thereafter they freely flexible runway I9 with its chainof cards II is flexed, as illustrated inFig. 3, and the wide lug or tongue 22 at the head thereof is inserted in slot 23. Thereafter the resultant return'to normal length of the runway I9 extends it between the fold of the sheath .I5 and the slot 23 whereat it is stopped by the shoulders 2U. This together with the engagement of the base of the runway I9 andthe greater width of the lowermost carried index card also engaged in the sheath I9, securely holds the loaded runway in It will thus be apparent that I have provided simple, economical, novel and useful means for readily assembling comparatively small index cards or strips of the type adapted to be arranged in overlapping chain-like formation, comprising a smooth runway or support for ease in assembly, which is detachable for ready interchange, correction, assembly and the like, and which is freely flexible without tendency to become distorted, the runway'by reason of its free ilexibility and other details of construction being adapted for rm engagement with a card holder of a general type used in visible index systems provided with a pocket sheath.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a visible index record filing means, a card holder having a sheath located along substantially its entire lower marginal edge, the upper portion of said card holder being provided with one or more intermediately located slots adjacentto and parallel with the upper edge thereof, and a freely flexible runway for supporting index cards, said runway being of a length substantially equal to the top to bottom lengthvof said card holder,` the upper portion of said runway being provided with a centrally located tab adapted to be positioned in said slot and having laterally projecting card abutting shoulder` portions of greater end-to-end width than the ,width of said runway extending therefrom, `the lower portion of said yrunway also being provided with card abutting shoulder portions of substantially the same width as the said upper shoulder portions, said lower shoulder portions being adapted for detachable retention in said sheath.

2. In a visible index record ling means, a runway comprising a freely flexible Celluloid strip having upper and lower opposed rshoulder tabs extending laterally therefrom, the lupper portion of said strip being provided'with kaV tab centrally located between said upper shoulders and extending perpendicularly thereto, and the lower portion of said strip being substantially straight from end to end of said lower shoulders.

3. In a visible index record ling means, a runway comprising `a freely exible elongated strip having upper and lower opposed shoulder tabs `extending laterally therefrom and greater in end-to-end width than the Width of said strip, the upper edge portion of said strip being provided with a tab centrally located between said upper shoulders and extending perpendicularly thereto, and the lower portion of said strip being substantially straight from end to end of said lower shoulders, the lateral distance between the ends of vthe upper and lower portions, respectively, being substantially the same.

CHARLES E. A'rTwooD. i 

